CETA, might still be a go.

[boarderbloke]

if so, how long before the tariffs drop. They sound fairly high now on durum. If you have #3 or better you might want to consider being patient with your sales, IMO. What about high quality HRSW, green peas, and canola??? Maybe we don't have to rely so much on the ChiComs, if tariffs against our grain going in to Europe are suddenly dropped. Does anyone have a list of tariffs on Canadian grain being exported into the EU? Cheap ocean freight will help too.

[grassfarmer]

While optimism is good I wouldn't be getting too excited. Many in the cattle sector got similarly excited a few years back at the prospect of sending increasing amounts of Canadian beef into the EU. Truth is your grain will start heading to Europe in increasing quantities the day the Cargills and Richardsons decide it's to their advantage to move Cdn grain there versus grain from any of the other parts of the world they control supply in. Unless you're like Klause and identify niche markets that want your product by the container full you will be stuck, as now, dumping your grain at prairie terminals with pricing completely at the mercy of the handful of companies that have controlled the N American grain trade for over 100 years. If a higher price was attainable in Europe they would feel no compulsion to pass this higher price on to farmers here.

[boarderbloke]

Does CETA contain improvements for Canadian cattle exported to the EU ? are there tariffs in place now? Maybe to get beef into the EU, you might have to kill it humanely, the same way Earl's like their beef slaughtered, a last meal, a parting gift and a "so sorry" .

[grassfarmer]

Improvements how ? in quantity, value? net returns for cattle producers here?
The tariffs had been reduced already on CDN beef several years ago. We currently have access for 23,000 tonnes but in 2013 only sent 1000 tonnes. Main constraint is the Europeans won't buy beef from hormone implanted cattle. Then there is the higher kill costs to get it passed for Europe so really its only been a little bit of niche market filling by independents up to now. No interest from Cargill or JBS as they can fill that market easily with S American beef instead. During the last 3 years with the run up in cattle prices cattle here were briefly more expensive than in Europe even before you add the cost of shipping the product.

"Market access" isn't the panacea that the failed ostrich farmer liked to proclaim it.

[boarderbloke]

So,,,they really do want their beef like Earl's.

[Hopalong]

Heard the story before that Cargill would fill export markets with U.S grown grain if wheat board monopoly ended. The wheat board director who told it backed down when asked why Cargill had bought and built facilities in Canada.

[Hopalong]

All the off again-on again news reports are getting monotonous, guessing there is over 50 percent chance CETA will go through. Disagree strongly with those who think it would be bad for Canadians, especially those of us in western Canada who depend so strongly on trade for our economic well-being.
The Trans Pacific (TPP) has potential to be another winner for us. With protectionism supported by more extreme wings of U.S. major parties, Canada has great opportunity in going for expanded trade wherever we can.
Not very concerned about foreign investment coming here, it is a good thing for us. Get more concerned when our own people start to see other parts of the world as better places to invest.

[perfecho]

Take a look at the TPP...."you don't get anything for nothin"....
Just because it spouts "trade", doesn't necessarily mean good trade. Parts of the TPP, from what I saw earlier, stated that if a country investing is restricted on profit due to laws and rules, they may not have to abide by them...something along those lines anyways....also...if they can make more profit by bringing in their own workers, they can do so. Do you really think that is worth it?
Trade should be straight forward...either you need the product or you don't....we have a market for it or we don't....the games get tooo silly otherwise.

[Hopalong]

Met a guy a few years back on trip to Brazil. Said he was there as consultant-technician at seaport elevator. Also said he was deported from Canada to US when called to a job at St Lawrence elevator.

[grassfarmer]

These "Investor State Dispute Settlements" are part and parcel of all the agreements perfecho, and one of the biggest threats. I'm quite impressed at the deal the Wallonians got for themselves out of this - done a good job of protecting their interests.

Here is a run down on their concessions (poorly translated from Dutch)

"Belgium will ask the European Court of Justice to rule on the special [ISDS] courts to be established to resolve trade problems. According to the statement these courts are in contravention of previous European agreements. In this way, Belgium is trying to prevent that billion euro claims can be made against governments.

For Flanders and the other regional governments, the European Commission‘s statement that the new courts will not yet start for the time being is sufficient. But not for Wallonia. That is why the agreement says that the Walloon and Brussels parliaments and the German language representatives will not sign the treaty if finally these special courts will come after all.

There will also be a separate assessment of the environmental impact. Moreover, the socio-economic consequences, eg for employment, will also be scrutinized. If it appears that the trade agreement damages one of the regions in Belgium, then the agreement will not be ratified.

Agriculture

The market should not be disturbed, in particular the market of agricultural products. In other words: if there come lots of cheap dairy products from Canada to Europe, making that Walloon farmers can no longer sell their products, then Wallonia reserves the right to intervene.

Products that have been genetically modified will not be allowed to enter Belgium. That means no meat from animals raised with growth hormones. The treaty calls that a limit on new reproductive technologies. The less strict legislation in Canada will not under any circumstances be copied by the European Union."